The USPOULTRY Foundation has awarded student recruiting grants totaling approximately $268,434 to the six U.S. universities with poultry science departments and 23 other institutions with industry-related programs. The foundation provides annual recruiting and retention funds to colleges and universities to attract students to their poultry programs. The grants were made possible by gifts received from companies and individuals within the poultry industry.
The six poultry science departments receiving the grants are: Auburn University, $21,051; Mississippi State University, $20,880; North Carolina State University, $28,302; Texas A&M, $38,178; University of Arkansas, $22,593 and University of Georgia, $18,996.
Funding for those grants were made possible by Ingram Farms, Sanderson Farms, Stanley Frank Family Fund, Tyson Foods, Monty & Margo Henderson Recruting Fund; and Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund.
The 23 other institutions with industry-related programs receiving recruiting and retention grants under the Foundation’s Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program are: Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College, $2,500; Blue Ridge Community College, $7,000; Cal Poly, $10,000; Clemson, $10,000; Clemson University, $2,933; Crowder College, $4,592; Eastern Oklahoma State College, $1,195; Louisiana State University, $7,000; McNeese State University, $2,720; Modesto Junior College, $5,750; Murray State University, $6,873; Ohio State University, $3,000; Oregon State University, $4,593; Penn State University, $10,000; Stephen F. Austin State University, $3,000; Tennessee Tech, $2,333; University of California-Davis, $2,333; University of Delaware, $5,495; University of Kentucky, $7,000; University of North Georgia, $6,550; University of Maryland Eastern Shore, $4,560; Wallace State Community College, $4,666; West Virginia University, $6,890; Wilkes Community College, $7,000.
Funding for those grants were made possible by Don Dalton Student Recruiting Fund, Robert Burtner Strickler and Gladys Hopkins Strickler Student Recruiting Fund, Leland Bagwell Education and Innovation Fund, Hollis P. Osborne Family, Simmons Foods, Sanderson Farms, Tyson Foods, AJC International, Valley Proteins and George’s Inc.
“It is important that we continue to attract bright young people to study careers in the poultry industry. We need astute young managers to join our companies, as they may one day be the leaders of tomorrow. USPOULTRY Foundation recruiting grants play a crucial role in inspiring students to enroll in industry-related studies and in becoming future industry leaders of tomorrow,” said USPOULTRY Foundation chairman James Adams, Wenger Feeds.
U.S. Poultry & Egg Association established the USPOULTRY Foundation in 1994 to provide student recruiting funds to universities with poultry science departments. In 2004, the Poultry Science Education Funding Program, now named the Industry Education Recruitment Funding Program, was added to the Foundation’s umbrella so other colleges and universities that offer industry-related studies are eligible to apply for recruiting grants.
